Once the water is spilled, it cannot be recovered. "Trump and Stamer's relationship cannot be repaired."

Questioning AI · Why might Trump’s attacks unexpectedly boost Starmer’s domestic support?

【Text / Observer Network Qi Qian】

Recently, U.S. President Trump has repeatedly attacked UK Prime Minister Starmer due to his dissatisfaction with Britain’s failure to support the U.S. in military actions targeting Iran. Several British officials and people familiar with the matter say that Starmer’s relationship with Trump may already be beyond repair.

According to a report by the UK’s The Guardian on April 3, after Trump mocked Britain’s aircraft carrier as “outdated” and said Starmer “needs to hold meetings and make decisions,” Starmer has remained restrained and has not addressed these remarks. British diplomatic and political figures say that UK-U.S. relations have been seriously damaged, and Starmer needs to redouble his efforts to build international ties with other countries.

One senior diplomat said that Starmer’s “basically ignoring” Trump is exactly right, and now he must try to establish connections with Canada, Australia, and mainland Europe, because at present it is hard to see how bilateral relations can be repaired.

Another former diplomat said that King Charles III of the UK is scheduled to visit the U.S. in late April, and this trip may provide an opportunity to improve UK-U.S. relations. But he said that it is the right approach for Starmer not to bow to Trump’s demands.

A government foreign affairs adviser said that Starmer’s move is in the UK’s biggest interest. The adviser said that Trump’s insults toward the UK are “unpredictable and capricious,” which raises questions about whether Starmer should continue to pursue close personal ties with Trump.

In addition, a spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office said that Trump has never asked Britain to provide an aircraft carrier, and Britain has not offered one on its own. Two weeks ago, when Trump criticized Starmer, he should have been referring to a minehunter—not an aircraft carrier.

Last September, Trump and Starmer met. Oriental IC

As UK-U.S. relations hit setbacks, nationwide local elections in the UK are set to be held in May this year.

Since early 2025, the UK Reform Party has surged. Due to events such as soaring prices and the scandal involving former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson and the Epstein case involving allegations of sexual abuse, Starmer’s Labour Party has continued to see its approval ratings fall. Previously, some analyses suggested there is an 80% chance that Starmer will be removed as prime minister by his own party this year, with the timing possibly after the nationwide local elections in May.

However, according to UK media reports, Trump’s recent attacks on the UK and Starmer may have helped Starmer and the Labour Party.

The Guardian said that the Labour Party has assured Starmer that they fully support his decision to remain calm in the face of Trump. Some people believe that Starmer’s way of dealing with Trump and the war has instead strengthened the case for him to continue serving as prime minister, regardless of the results of next month’s local elections.

Among them, Labour MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emily Thornberry said she is “pleased that the UK has a leader who works with the team and listens to expert advice.”

Kim Darroch, a former National Security Adviser and former British ambassador to the U.S., said that Starmer’s “refusal to directly get pulled into this ‘selective war’ is correct.” He said: “This has undoubtedly dealt a serious blow to his personal relationship with Trump, leading Trump to take aim at the UK over NATO and tariffs. This risk makes it very important for us to immediately prioritize rebuilding links with the EU single market.”

At the same time, Trump may also cause trouble for the UK Reform Party and the Conservative Party, which initially supported the U.S. bombing of Iran.

Reform Party MP Robert Jenrick, head of economic affairs, said that the relationship between Starmer and Trump has “obviously suffered a huge blow and may already be beyond repair.” But he said that he is absolutely not “defending Trump or the way he conducts himself—by no means.”

Jenrick said: “I don’t like seeing foreign leaders belittle British leaders, no matter which party they belong to. You want our prime minister to be respected on the international stage and be treated with respect by our main allies.”

On April 1, in an interview with the UK’s The Daily Telegraph, Trump criticized Starmer and also mocked the UK’s naval warships as “outdated.” Trump has previously attacked the UK multiple times for refusing to authorize the use of military bases for the initial strikes against Iran, and for transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

In response to Trump’s remarks, Starmer said on the 1st that the conflict in the Middle East has nothing to do with the UK. “This is not our war, and we will not be dragged into it.” He said that as the situation in the world grows turbulent, Britain hopes to conduct closer economic and security cooperation with the EU, and build a “partnership that recognizes our shared values, common interests, and common future.”

According to UK media reports, concern on the UK side has been sparked by what they describe as the chaotic foreign policy of the Trump administration. The UK now cannot trust the U.S. government. As a result, the UK’s security agencies have restricted intelligence-sharing with the U.S., and they do not allow U.S. officials seconded to the UK to take part in certain meetings where sensitive information is discussed.

UK intelligence sources said this is a “tit-for-tat” measure—an answer to similar “hostile actions” by the U.S.

John Foulman, who previously served as a military attaché at the UK Embassy in Russia, said: “Once trust is gone, it is hard to restore. If the U.S. is unwilling to ensure that British secrets continue to be kept confidential, then restrictions will have to be put in place.”

This article is an exclusive report by Observer Network. No reproduction is allowed without authorization.